Wagon



(No Model.)

J. D. HALL.

WAGON Patented May 6 1890.

WITNESSES;

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HALL, OF ORRVILLE, OHIO.

WAGON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,416, dated May 6, 1890.

' Application filed March 8, 1890. $erial No. 543,121. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN D. HALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Orrville, county of \Vayne, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wagons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wagon gear; and it consists in providing means by which the front and rear axles may be locked together in a parallel relation or at a desired angle to hold the four wheels in alignment or to hold the front axle rigid with the rear axle at any desired angle within the limit of its movement.

WVith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation, partly sectional, illustrating my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view, and Fig. 3 a perspective of detail. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the front end portion of the front hounds, showing the manner of connecting the tongue; and Fig. 5, the tongue-supporting plate.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

As my invention is applicable to many of the well-known wagons now in use, I will proceed with a description of my invention, referring to the wagon parts only as conjunctional thereto.

A represents the wagon-wheel, placed 011 the spindle in the usual way; B, the axle, and O the reach, connecting the rear axle (not shown) to the front by the king-boltD in the usual way.

E represents a sand-bar of the usual form.

' On the under side of the reach 0 is provided a spring-actuated bolt F, to slide in a suitcble supporting-box portion G, the rear end of said bolt to engage a series of notches J in a segmental plate K, secured to the rear portion of the front hounds L. A clevis, as M, is provided, having a front portion a, projected forward of and above the axle B, and having prongs I), through which are provided apertures d, the prongs I) provided withoppositely-projecting arms 6. The reach 0 is placed between the prongs l) c and the axle B and sand-bar E. The king-bolt D is passed through the san d-bar apertures d in the rear end portion of the prongs b and the front end of the reach, as shown in Fig. 1. The end portions of the arms 6 have a chain or link connection h with the bolt F, by which the bolt may be drawn out of the notch J in the segment or rack K.

The tongue'is pivotally secured to the front portion of the hounds L about the plate 70, said plate having at its end portions a rounded portion 19, on the ends of which is provided a screw-thread, and in the central portion of said plate is provided a perforation for a tongue-bolt q. A mortise is provided in the tongue, as shown by the dotted line, into which the plate It is placed and the bolt q.

passed therethrough. The front end portion of the hounds, having a perforation adapted to receive the rounded portion of the plate, are placed in position, as shown in Fig. 4c, and threaded nuts turned on to secure the parts in working position.

It will be noticed that by the provision just described the front end of the tongue may move vertically by rocking the plate in the hounds and laterally by moving about the bolt q. The rear end of said tongue is adapted to embrace the front portion m of the clevis M, about which portion may be placed a coil-sprin g a, the lower end of which rests 011 the top of the tongue and the upper end restrained by the upper end portion of the clevis M. The energy of the spring is exerted downwardly, by which the front end of the tongue is raised to relieve the team of a portion of the Weight of the tongue on the neck.

In operation,when the bolt F is in the central notch of the segment K the tongue N and reach O are locked in alignment, the front and rear axles parallel, and will so remain during the progressive movement of the wagon, and in case of the front wheel striking an obstruction the blow will be resisted'by the reach O, to which the axle is locked by the bolt F engaging the segment K, as before stated, by which arrangement the tongue is secured from violent lateral movement against the team; and when it is desired to change the direction of the wagon the pressure of the team on the tongue through the neck-yoke will cause the rear portion of the tongue to move a distance, for which provision is made in the connection of the tongue to the front portion of the hounds L to allow the rear end to swing the clevis M to the right or to the left a short distance. The arms 6 are of such length that a slight movement of the tongue will swing the arms such a distance as to draw the end of the bolt F out of engagement with the segment K. The segment may be swung a distance and the bolt dropped into another notch of the segment, by which the front axle will be locked obliquely to the reach and the rear axle, in which position the progressive movement of the wagon would describe a given circle until interrupted by the movement of the team. Thus it willbe seen that the tongue, axles, and reach maybe locked in position at right angles to each other; or the front axle may be locked to the reach on a line oblique to the rear axle and at any desired point of adjustment within the m0 vement of said parts.

The advantage will be apparent that while the team has perfect control to guide the Wagon by the tongue the tongue is at-no time free to strike the team as formerly, unless it is at the instant the bolt F is disengaged, and

on whatever line or circle the wagon may be drawn the gear will always be held to the desired line by the bolt F engaging the segment K, which engagcm ent may be made or broken at any instant by the movement of the team, causing a lateral or side movement of the front end of the tongue; but when the end of the tongue is at rest in the neck-yoke ring, having no lateral pressure thereon, the parts will be locked together, as hereinbefore stated.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the front axle of a wagon, of the hounds L, the tongue N, loosely secured therein and adapted to move vertically and laterally in said hounds, the clevis M, having a front vertical portion adapted to engage the rear end of the tongue, arms extending laterally therefrom, and links at, by which said arms are connected to a locking-bolt F, adapted to engage a series of notches on the rear portion of the hounds L, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the front axle of a wagon, of the reach 0, axle B, hounds L. a rack K, secured to the rear portion of said hounds, a tongue pivotally secured in the front portion of said hounds, a clevis M, pi votally secured to said axle, said clevis having arms e, and a link-connection with a springactuated locking-bolt F, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combinatiomin a wagon of the axle B, clevis M, and tongue N, the rear end of which engages the clevis M and spring 72, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of February, A. D. 1890.

JOHN D. HALL.

\Vitnesscs:

J. NELSON FERRELL, WM. A. CASE. 

